With epic snow conditions in Colorado and California, now is the time to book your spring ski vacation. January snowfall in Colorado proved to be one for the record books. Snowfall totals for Vail and Breckenridge Resorts were 60 percent and 50 percent above 10-year averages, respectively and Keystone also has the highest snowfall to-date in the past 10 years. Heavenly and Northstar-at-Tahoe are also getting pounded with snow and over the past week snow totals were in excess of 100 inches at Northstar-at-Tahoe.
Celebrations & Festivals:
Keystone Winter Culinary Festival, March 4-6: In support of Keystone and Vail Resorts' Appetite for Life Program, chefs will be serving sustainable and organic ingredients all weekend. For a detailed schedule, visit www.keystoneculinary.com.
Breckenridge Mardi Gras Meets the Mountains, March 5-8: Celebrate carnival season with a twist of skiing, sunshine and Fat Tuesday revelry when Mardi Gras meets the mountains in Breckenridge with a masquerade ball, live music and Main Street parade. Mix it up this carnival season with outstanding ski conditions and a weekend-long mountain town celebration. For more information visit www.breckenridge.com.
Northstar-at-Tahoe Mardi Gras Celebration, March 5-8: Celebrate Mardi Gras in the Village at Northstar and on the mountain with food and drink specials, live music and more. Fat Tuesday, March 8 will feature live music on the Village stage from 3-6 p.m. For more information visit www.northstarattahoe.com.
CarniVail, March 6-11: Chow down on crawfish at the World's Highest Low Country Crawfish Boil at Eagle's Nest on Vail Mountain, collect bundles of beads at the Fat Tuesday parade through Vail Village and sway to the sounds of the World Famous Buckwheat Zydeco and Frogs Gone Fishin' at free live concerts in Vail Village. Visit www.vail.com for more information.
Heavenly Mountain Resort Tahoe Winter Snow Blast Concert Series, March 18: A winter concert series with world-class, nighttime entertainment in a package that only Lake Tahoe South Shore can provide. For more information visit www.ltsnowblasts.com.
Spring Lodging Deals:
RockResorts and Vail Resorts are offering the “Spring Break on Us” package. Book now and enjoy one free night of lodging on stays through April 30. Rates start from $75 per night in Keystone and Breckenridge. Minimum stays and blackouts may apply. Visit www.springbreakonus.com or call 1-866-513-7625.
RockResorts is offering the "1-2-3 Spa" package which includes one spa welcome amenity, two spa treatments and three nights of lodging. Package is valid on stays through December at all Rock Resorts -- including The Arrabelle at Vail Square and The Lodge at Vail (rates from $272 per night, double). Visit www.rockresorts.com/123spa or call 1-866-513-7625.
On-site lodging at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort on the "Stay & Ski Free" package begins at $115 per person, per night in a studio condominium (other unit types available) and includes two lift tickets per room, per night (two night minimum required). For more information, visit www.northstarattahoe.com or call 1-800-466-6784.
Soak up sun this spring at Beaver Creek with up to 30 percent off of lodging on stays between March 19 and April 17. Rates start at just $62 per person, per night, quad occupancy, in a two-bedroom Creekside Condominium at Beaver Creek Resort. A minimum three night stay required. Book online at www.beavercreek.com or by calling 1-800-404-3535.
This April catch Spring Fever along with Breckenridge Ski Resort when the town welcomes visitors to one of the best times of the year for skiing. Stay at the Great Divide Lodge from $99 per night. Catch live music every weekend, restaurant discounts, extended hours in the terrain park and more on March 27-April 24 stays. For more, visit www.breckenridge.com.
Getting to the Slopes:
One-way rates to Denver start at $109 when tickets are purchased through midnight, tonight (2/24) on AirTran, Delta, Frontier or United -- all with nonstop service from Atlanta. Additionally, Frontier Airlines offers one-way rates of $119 to Colorado Springs and $124 to Aspen on the same sale.
Sale rates are valid on travel started on or after March 4 and completed by May 25. Prices are based on Tuesday or Wednesday travel with other days priced $20 higher (Sunday travel is at regular rates).
Sale airfares are always subject to change. Every seat on every flight is not offered at the lowest rate. Since only a limited supply of seats is available, act quickly to make your purchase. I recommend starting the search for available seats at Kayak.com vs. calling an airline directly. You can also search for the sale at travel Web sites such as Expedia or Travelocity, etc. Airlines can discontinue or pull a sale price without notice when the offer is deemed "sold out," or when that rate does not have a "ticket-by" date.
Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant.
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